Wind-wheel.



Patented Oct. 3, i899.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1h35' @Morne-ys J. B. GIRARD.

WIND WHEEL.

(Application led Feb. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

No. s34,|ss.

Patented oct. 3, |899.

v.11.3. GIRARD.

WIN D WH E E L (Application tiled Feb. 16, 189%) h.wwwuUNSW:uHHHHHHHMHHWHHMMW S m (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JEAN BAPTISTE GIRARD, or ST. AIME, CANADA, AssIGNoR or oNE-I-IALF To P. HUGUES GELINAS, or ST. HUGUES, CANADA.

WIND-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,168, dated October 3, 1899.

' Application se@ Tammy 10,1890. serial No. 705,800. ci@ model.)

To @ZZ whom/ it may concern:

Beit known that I, JEAN BAPTISTE GIRARD, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at St. Aim, county of Richelieu7 Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vind-Wheels and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wind-wheels.

The object of my invention is to provide a wind-wheel which can be readily set up and taken down, which can be readily placed in position in a boat to serve as a driving power, and in which the structural parts are simple and efficient in operation and durable in construction.

A further object is to provide a wind-wheel in which the vanes are heldin Xed position, the angle at which the vanes are held being such as will allow of the vanes receiving the full force of the air-currents, yet not impeding the rotary movement of the Wind-wheel.

To these and other ends my invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all of the views, Figure l is a sectional View of a boat, showing my improved wind-wheel in position to drive the boat against the wind.

Fig. 2 is a view showing a section of the windy wheel. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the outer rim of the wheel. Fig. t is an enlarged sectional View showing the manner of fastening the inner end of the vanes. Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the manner in which the inclination of the vanes is secured.

In the construction of the wind-wheel it is essential thatV the parts be strong and subl stantial and 0f exceeding lightness and capable of being readily taken apart. It is therefore the object of my invention to provide a construction in which these features are found and also to provide awheel that can be placed in a boat and connected to the propeller by suitable mechanism, by means of which the boat will be driven forward by the movement of the wheel, the position of the wheel being capable of adjustment by the steersman in order that the wheel can be held directly against the wind regardless ofthe direction of movement of the boat.

l designates a wind-wheel comprising a cen- 6o tral hub 2, having radiating arms 3. Each arm Sis provided with laterally-extending lugs 4, having a hook portion 5, the hook portions being adapted to receive a segmental portion 6, to which the lower ends of the vanes are attached, the hooks 5 passing into suitable openings 7, formed in said segmental portions. The outer ends S of the arms 3 extend a short distance beyond the lugs 4 and are adapted to receive the inner end of the hol- 7o low arms 9, which form extensions of the arms 3, said arms 9 having their outer ends connected to a suitable rim 10, formed in sections and having a semicylindrical form in cross-section. provided with a series of bars 1l, extending diagonally across the diameter of said section at an angle of approximately twenty-six and one-half degrees, (2Q-0,) said bars forming the outer connecting means for the vanes l2. 8o

The vanes I2 are formed of suitable material, preferably flexible, and are arranged in such manner as to have their outer end of greater width than the inner end, the latter being connected to suitable cross-bars 13, havinga threaded extension let adapted to pass through suitable openings 15, formed in the segmental portion G, thus holding the vanes at their proper angle, the extensions being held in position by means of nuts threaded on the ends 9o of the extensions la, allowing of an adjustment of the vanes and also to allow of their being removed when desired. By this construction it will be readily seen that by removing the vanes from the segmental portions the entire outer section may be readily removed from or putin place on the Inner section, making the wind-wheel easy to transport.

I have heretofore stated that the vanes are roo located at anangle of approximately twentysix and one-half degrees (2G-f) and will now Each section of the rim 10 is 75 proceed to describe the method by which this angle is obtained and also its advantages.

As shown in Fig. a square is drawn having each of its sides equal to the width of the vane. An arc of a circle is then drawn having its radius equal to one of the sides of the square, the center beingplaccd at one of the meeting points of the square. The square is then bisected and a line drawn from the point used as a center to the meeting point of the line of bisection and the side of the square at the opposite side to that of the peint used as a center, the line so drawn cutting the arc, this line being approximately at an angle of twenty-six and a-half degrees, (20.1.0.) As will be seen in Fig. 5, the point of intersection of the line of inclination of the vane and the arc isa short distance from the line of bisection, and as the vane is of alength only equal to the distance between `the center used and the arc and the vanes are spaced a distance apart equal to one-half their width it will be apparent that a space will be formed between the vanes (as best shown in Fig. 6) which will allow of the direct passage of the air-currents. This angle of the vanes has been found to be the most suitable to obtain the greatest effect of the air-currents, inasmuch as the surface is presented at such an angle to receive the full benefit of the air-current, yet which will allow the currents of air to pass through the vane without a great amount of friction, thereby preventing the tendency of the wheel to sag, as is clearly apparent in the case of vanes set at an angle of forty-five degrees (450) and sixty degrees, (600,) as shown in Fig. 5.

As the wheel is particularly adapted for use in the propelling of boats, Iwill nowproceed lo describe the mechanism used by means of which the boat may be driven forward' directly against the wind.

As shown in Fig. 1,the wheel 1 is mounted on ashaft 1G, mounted in a bearing 17, formed on the end of a hollow rotatable upright 18. The shaft 1G is provided with a suitable bevel-gear 19, adapted to coaet with a similar gear 20, mounted on a vertical shaft 21, mounted within the upright 1S. The lower end of the shaft 21 is provided with a bevel-gear 22,adapted to coact with a similar gear 23, mounted on a shaft 24, extendinglongitudinally of the boat 25, the shaft 2t extending through the stern of the boat and having its rear end provided with a propeller 2G of suitable shape. The

lower end of the upright 1S is provided with a suitable worin-gear 27, which is moved by that as the wheel is revolved the propeller will be caused te rotate, thus carrying the boat forward. a direction away from the direction of movement of the boat, the handle 30 is rotated, which through the medium of the worin 28, the worm-gear 27, and lthe upright 1S causes the bearing to be moved until the desired direction is reached, when the wheel, being in proper position to receive the direct force of the aircurrents, will continue to rotate the propeller. Then it is desired to stop the boat, the handle 30 is rotated until the vanes present their edges to the wind, when the wheel will cease its movement.

\Vhile I have herein shown a preferred form of carrying my invention into effect, vet I do not desire to limit myself to such preferred detail of construction, but claim the right to use any and all modifications thereof which will serve to carry into effect the objects to be attained by this invention in so far as such modifications and changes may fall within the spirit and scope of my said invention.

lIaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- A wind-wheel, comprisinga hub having radiatingarms integral therewith, laterally-extendinglugs fixed upon said arms and provided with hooks at the extremities thereof, a segmental portion located between said arms, each portion having suitable openings to receive said hooks, hollow arms sleeved upon the ends of said radiating arms, a rim semicircular in cross-section secured to the outer ends ofsaid hollowarms, diagonally-arranged bars connecting the edges of said rim, flexible vanes secured at their outer ends to said diagonal bars, the inner ends of said vanes being adjustably mounted in suitable openings in said segmental portions, and means for locking said flexible vanes in their adjusted position, substantially as described.

In witness whereofIhave hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JEAN BAPTISTE GIRARD.

Witnesses:

PAUL PATRIN, Jos. G. LARIvinE.

IVhen the wind is blowing in' IOC) 

